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The consistency of having a top five to eight passing quarterback can propel you to a championship. Other owners that decide to wait will likely look for the next best style of quarterback. For years that has always been a quarterback that is a threat to get 6 points with their feet.

That has not changed. There was even a time that Tim Tebow had fantasy football value for a short stint of his success with Denver. Here are the top quarterbacks with a threat to get in the endzone for your fantasy football teams this season.

Cam Newton
Newton can drive you crazy as a fantasy owner with his abysmal weeks yardage wise. But Newton has the best hidden fantasy value of any quarterback because of his legs. Carolina has not had a fantasy friendly running back in years because of Newton. They have the short yardage plunge perfected with Newton. Get ready for more Superman chest flashes this season.

Andrew Luck
Luck isn’t a top twelve fantasy quarterback yet with his arm, but gives a little extra value with his legs. You have to wonder if the Colts have success running the football if Luck’s numbers start to dwindle with his legs. Until then though you can boost Luck up a few spots because of his rushing ability.

Colin Kaepernick
People tend to doubt Kaepernick’s arm but I’m a high believer in Kaepernick for both his legs and arm. In week one last year against Green Bay he dazzled and outplayed Aaron Rodgers with his arm. His accuracy was pinpoint but for some reason the 49ers offense was in disarray all season. It was Kaepernick’s first full season as starter. He was a series away from his second Super Bowl appearance. Look for the 49ers to unleash Kaepernick a bit more with his legs as it looked like he was held back in that fashion last year.

RG3
His numbers will likely never get to the level they were as a rookie but history always repeats itself. Time and time again an athlete gets boosted too high coming back from an injury than written off when actually healthy.

Ryan Fitzpatrick
Last year in Tennessee, Fitzpatrick made some nice plays with his legs. He has scrambling ability and isn’t afraid to tuck and go. Who can forget his scramble for a touchdown as a Buffalo Bill against the Miami Dolphins? Fitz likely won’t be on too many fantasy rosters but owners in dire need can have some insurance with Fitzpatrick’s rushing ability.

Others: Russ Wilson, Ryan Tannehil, Johnny Manziel, Mike Vick, EJ Manuel, and Alex Smith

By Tyler Cimini

If your plan going in to your leagues fantasy draft was to draft a quarterback in the first round whose name isn’t Brees, Rodgers, or P. Manning then your season is over before it even began. The NFL is a passing league, but it doesn’t take a genius to realize that snagging two quality running backs is the best way to carry your fantasy team.

Top running backs to snag
Lesean McCoy-Last year, McCoy was a yardage monster. Putting up 1,946 in total yards and 11 total touchdowns he ranked 11th in overall fantasy points and second among running backs. In week 1 of the pre-season it was a shock to see that Foles didn’t play so hot (2 INT). If that’s a sign of things to come than maybe we’ll see more of McCoy handling the game, while Foles manages it.

Adrian Peterson
-It’s no secret that AP will go in the first round and most likely number one overall. But he may also be on the board by the third or fourth pick too if you have a league of what I call stat collectors. AP was only 6th in standard leagues for running backs last year with 203.7 points. That means Matt Forte was ahead of him (229.5) and Demarco Murray (198.2) close behind. However, I expect AP to rise ahead in scoring considering two factors. The first being, every rookie quarterbacks best friend is a solid running game and the second is new offensive coordinator, Norve Turner. Turner will undoubtedly try to use AP in any situation he can to take the presser off Bridgewater (if he starts).

Best late round steal

Darren Sproles-In 2013 he was only able to come up with 99 overall fantasy points. I know…it’s risky. But with a new team and new system I expect to see a lot of two back formations from the Eagles. The upside to Sproles is his ability to play a receiving threat on offense. Especially for anyone drafting in a PPR league, this is your guy.

Owner Beware

Knowshon Moreno
-Remember last season? Did you know Moreno was 4th in points for running backs? Did you forget the quarterback was Payton Manning? I’m sure you didn’t. Now he is in a new offense with a new quarterback in Miami. Before Peyton, I knew him as “No-Show” Moreno and many camp reports from Miami are only showing signs of regression for him. His official debut is scheduled for week 2 of the pre-season where he will be judged with heavy eyes.

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I find it funny how running backs and quarterbacks get the bulk of discussion in terms of age and performance. Speculation of their jobs being overtaken appear continuously throughout their tenure as a professional. For a wide receiver though it’s the opposite and downplayed. When a receiver diminishes it’s like saying goodbye to a common worker in a regular job field.

It’s an after thought and the next young performer steps in without a discussion to the level of a quarterback or running back.

I’m ending that buck with this column. The focus is on wide receivers on the downside of their pro careers and fantasy football success.

Reggie Wayne
As dynamic as Wayne’s career has been you have to wonder if this comeback is truly in the best interest of the Colts organization or Wayne. I’m going to lean to Wayne. He has had a heck of a career that actually started off slow during Marvin Harrison’s heydays. The descent is inevitable. You just hope that Wayne ends on good football grounds and not the way a receiver like Torry Holt did. In fantasy football rankings he is sitting in the later 20’s. That may be too high until we see how he responds from injury and adapting back to full game speed.

Vincent Jackson
By all means Jackson probably has another year or two as a starting wide receiver left in him. But I’m discounting the high value he is receiving for fantasy football this season. Jackson lacks break away speed as evidenced by him getting tracked down several times last year. 80 percent of receivers would have scored on the touchdowns he was tracked down on. His size and knack to catch the ball in traffic for touchdowns keeps the fantasy radar locked on him. Look for Jackson’s numbers to diminish from a year ago.

Marques Colston
By the drafting of Kenny Stills last year and Brandin Cooks this year the Saints are preparing for the end for Colston. Injuries have taken their toll on Colston but he has still managed to be a solid WR3/WR4 in fantasy football. If Colston had to learn a new system or play with another quarterback he likely wouldn’t be even a top 50 wide receiver. His rapport with Brees allows him to maintain credible fantasy status.

Others: Greg Jennings and Hakeem Nicks

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Friday night is in the books for week one of the preseason. Here are a few quick notes on fantasy worthy contributors to this upcoming season.

Nic Foles
Ouch. While most starting quarterbacks either sat out or had minimal affect in short stints, Nic Foles put out a dud performance. Two interceptions are not what fantasy owners want to see on nine attempts. I’ll fade this output and look for Foles to put his 2014 early jitters away.

Bryce Brown
Brown had a few opportunities as an Eagle and flourished for a couple of games there. Now he is in Buffalo where a role could open up in similar fashion. Fred Jackson is up there in age and CJ Spiller is not a high carry back. Brown ran the ball for 64 yards on 11 carries Friday night against the Panthers.

Mark Ingram
Ingram was probably the most impressive fantasy worthy player Friday night. He looked leaner overall and took advantage of his eight carries on the night. In all he totaled over 80 yards and scored a touchdown on a nifty 22-yard run. Ingram became a bigger part of the Saints offense during the latter part of 2013. He’ll need to showcase a continuation of a solid effort in the preseason before he gets moved up to RB2 consideration.

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Arian Foster’s decline a year ago has been seen time and time again from the position of running back. Outstanding seasons suddenly get abruptly halted from injuries. Foster had shaken off a few injury bugs in prior seasons to still perform. In 2013 though they piled up to the brink that he told Hannah Storm in a recent interview he pondered retirement.

The tread on Foster’s legs and body is definitely not the same from most 27 year old backs. In college Foster was a four-year guy and carried the ball enough to break all-time records at Tennessee. Though undrafted, Foster ended up in a prime position in Houston with the likes of Steve Slaton.

Not too often will you find a second year back not drafted as the feature back. He relished the role and received a mega contract most backs don’t get until his current age now.

Foster’s track record sort of gives the vibe that he is a 30 year old back. Fantasy owners are likely leery of the Texan back, but I’d give him strong upside as a top tier fantasy back. Even though the Texans do not have a stud quarterback, the offense will still move fluid enough to garner Foster a higher ranking than he currently is averaging (10th).

For those not registering the possibility of Foster being a top five back again, consider this. Jamaal Charles fell back pretty hard in rankings when he suffered a serious knee injury and missed an entire season. He came back at full strength and now is considered the top fantasy back with his duel abilities.

His climb back to the top has left an absent minded void to perennial fantasy football owners. The age of Charles and Foster are the same, 27.

If Charles can return from a far and away more serious of an injury, than why is Foster receiving such a steep downgrade? Sure he doesn’t offer the same bang for the dollar that he once did out of the backfield, but he is still a great rusher and double digit type of touchdown producer.

Houston felt comfortable enough to part ways with Ben Tate and allot room for a downgrade in the second running back position in Andre Brown. I look for Foster to quiet his skeptics and work his way back into solidifying himself as a top five fantasy running back. Consider him a steal if you get him in the early to mid second round.

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Fantasy football consists of many variables, but proper talent evaluation is one of the strongest keys. Some fantasy owners get overly consumed with the top portion of a fantasy football draft. They’re locked in on getting the hot names from a year ago in the first five rounds of their draft.

Similar to NFL Drafts teams hit or miss in the first three to four rounds. Due diligence though and often times they draft better personnel from the same position in later rounds. You have to be prepared to fill out your entire roster with quality depth.

What area is often overlooked by fantasy owners is drafting a veteran or two. So many fantasy owners get soaked into the fact of getting the big names, the preseason fads, and rookies. Drafting too many rookies and high upside players leaves you vulnerable. You’re more than likely keying in on the waiver wire or pulling a trade within the first month of the season.

There’s nothing wrong with drafting a player or two that is obviously regressing statistically. Though the upside isn’t strong you have a realistic idea of what that athlete will likely do. Having a strong RB3 or WR3/4 can come from this strategy. Think of players such as Terrell Owens, Curtis Martin, Hines Ward, and LT. They all provided solid value at declining ages and non-fantasy starting roles.

The same can be had nowadays. Take a strong look at veterans like MJD, Marques Colston, Reggie Wayne, Anquan Boldin, Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith, Ray Rice, DeAngelo Williams, Darren Sproles, and Fred Jackson.

They all likely have a negative perspective in the minds of your fantasy football cohorts. I’m not saying draft a team full of veterans. But plugging a couple of guys with experience is similar to what key organizations do in all sports. Bringing in veterans gives your team a bit of stability. Do that for yourself this year instead of attempting to rotate the never ending one week wonder off of waivers.